Freedom's Lost by David Houtchens

Freedom's Lost

by David Houtchens

People seeking faces,

People who they know,

Hoping that they'll find them.

And afraid to know.

The terror of the loss.

The agony of pain.

With victims all around

Nothing is the same.

Yet, nothing's really changed.

But now we seem to know.

That we're not really safe

Anywhere we go.

We really weren't before.

But we didn't care ,

'Cause most of death occurred

Somewhere "over there."

Now it's come to us.

They brought it to our shore.

We simply can't ignore it

As we did before.

The pain that this now brings

Is really nothing new

It's we who haven't felt it.

We, the sheltered few.

This fortress of America

That was open, and free.

Stood as an example

To all who cared to see.

We showed the world our freedom.

We thought, indeed, we could.

Now we wonder if we can.

Or even if we should.

"Freedom isn't free"

Is a phrase we've heard before.

We thought that it was paid for

By those who died before.

This tragedy upon us

Is another cost of freedom.

It's current,

And it hurts.

But if we would be free

We must pay the cost

Whatever we give up,

That freedom, then, is lost.

Franklin said it well,

Others have agreed,

Freedom, while expensive,

Does not Safety need.

If we choose our safety,

Over freedom's cost,

The time will come when both

Are forever lost.